Norman as choreographer?

These are short clips from a film made by Norman McLaren. Pas de deux being one of a number using dancers.It is clear McLaren had a great interest in movement and dance.My recent research has evealed, in fact that he loved dancing. His film made at art college, 'Camera Makes Whoopee' ,has a large section of dance in it and I already see in this the accute spatial awareness that I think made him unique.It is interesting to note that one of the reasons he engaged in dance film was as a teaching aid for ballet dancers. Ballet Adagio was expressly for this purpose. He always seems to have been ready and willing to share his ideas and although he was a shy man in many ways, he was nevertheless a good communicator.


Norman McLaren was a pioneer of technique. He was an animator but also a director, musician, artist and keen observer of humanity.A multi faceted individual who had so many great ideas . It probably goes without saying that he was also an incredibly hard worker! He threw himself heart and soul into his projects, and that shows in his films. It is interesting to note how many of his films still seem relevant today. The film techniques may in some cases seem quite dated but often the subject matter overrides this, I feel ,and  films like 'Neighbours' have as much power to move emotions as they must have done in 1950.

He had a great sympathy for oppressed people of the world.I wonder if his mother encouraging him to go to visit the 'slums' near his home increased his awareness of those less fortunate than him.I have recently wondered if those 'slums' were in fact 'The Raploch' which is at present undergoing an amazing regeneration.

So what was it that was so special about him as a person? How did he generate ideas?
He once said that if he had been a dancer he would have created movemnt in a very different way, but movement was nevertheless his main language as an animator.His was constantly trying to bring some sense of motion to his paintings as a student, and film presented the solution.

So how would a Norman McLaren choreography look?
This is one of the questions I hope to explore in my masters degree.